gingerbread baby
TRANSCRIPT
Baby
Gingerbread
Gingerbread Baby Book by Jan Brett
Unit Study by Ami
Language Arts
Memory Game
After you read the book, close it. Ask your child who the gingerbread baby got
away from and see how many of the people/animals he is able to remember. With
a younger child, you may want to simply ask what animals he remembers from the
book. Do this on a few different days to see if your child's memory improves.
Drama
Print the animal masks and act the story out with your child(ren). Dad may join in,
too! Another variation of this would be to make puppets and let your children put
on a puppet show as they re-enact the story.
Critical Thinking
Matti was very clever in how he caught the Gingerbread Baby. Ask your student if
he can think of a different way to catch that Gingerbread Baby. Your younger
student may simply narrate it for you while your older student may want to write it
in a story form.
Vocabulary
meddling- to interest oneself in what is not one's concern
snout- a long nose or muzzle
worn- old, used
pranced- danced
tumbled- fell over
tabby- a cat with a striped and spotted coat
twitched- to move with sudden motion
whiff- smell
Complete the vocabulary shapes and add them to your lapbook.
Folk Tales
This story is a folk tale. It isn't a true story. What parts of this story are make-
believe? What parts are like real life?
If you have an older student, you may want to have him make a list of familiar folk
and fairy tales. Can you go to the library and find many different versions of the
same tale? Your student may also be able to make a list of folk tale characteristics.
A good tale to add on to this study would be Hansel and Gretel (because of the
candy house connection).
Record your student's narration of Hansel and Gretel in the mini-book and put it in
your lapbook.
Compare and Contrast Two Stories
Read other versions of this classic tale together and discuss what is the same/what
is different. Your older child may want to make a chart or a Venn diagram. After
you read multiple versions, your student may want to try writing (or narrating) his
own version.
Elements of a Story
Look through the printables section to find the mini books for plot, character, and
setting. Discuss these elements with your student and complete the books.
Social Studies
Living in a Different Time Era
What are some differences in the way things are in this story vs. the way things are
in real life?
Mom has a real fire under her stove and firewood in the house
There are candles hanging on the wall for light-- no electricity
Horse/Wagon
The Milkman
What other examples can you and your student find?
Geography
Map out where the different ingredients (for gingerbread) come from.
History of Gingerbread
Gingerbread has been baked in Europe for centuries.
In some places, it was a soft, delicately spiced cake; in others, a crisp, flat cookie,
and in others, warm, thick, steamy-dark squares of "bread," sometimes served
with a pitcher of lemon sauce or whipped cream. It was sometimes light,
sometimes dark, sometimes sweet, sometimes spicy, but it was almost always cut
into shapes such as men, women, stars or animals, and colorfully decorated or
stamped with a mold and dusted with white sugar to make the impression visible.
The manufacture of gingerbread appears to have spread throughout Western
Europe at the end of the eleventh century, possibly introduced by crusaders
returning from wars in the Eastern Mediterranean. From its very beginning
gingerbread has been a fairground delicacy. Many fairs became known as
"gingerbread fairs" and gingerbread items took on the alternative name in England
of "fairings" which had the generic meaning of a gift given at, or brought from, a
fair.
Certain shapes were associated with different seasons: buttons and flowers were
found at Easter fairs, and animals and birds were a feature in autumn. There is also
more than one village tradition in England requiring unmarried women to eat
gingerbread "husbands" at the fair if they are to stand a good chance of meeting a
real husband.
Gingerbread-making was eventually recognized as a profession in itself. In the
seventeenth century, gingerbread bakers had the exclusive right to make it, except
at Christmas and Easter. Their street cries could be heard well into the nineteenth
century, but by 1951, only two men in London had their own gingerbread for sale
in the streets.
Of all the countries in Europe, Germany is the one with the longest and strongest
tradition of flat, shaped gingerbreads. At every autumn fair in Germany, and in the
surrounding lands where the Germanic influence is strong, there are rows of stalls
filled with hundreds of gingerbread hearts, decorated with white and colored icing
and tied with ribbons.
Gingerbread making in North America has its origins in the traditions of the many
settlers from all parts of Northern Europe who brought with them family recipes
and customs. By the nineteenth century, America had been baking gingerbread for
decades. American recipes usually called for fewer spices than their European
counterparts, but often made use of ingredients that were only available
regionally. Maple syrup gingerbreads were made in New England, and in the South
sorghum molasses was used.
Nowhere in the world is there a greater repertoire of gingerbread recipes than in
America: there are so many variations in taste, form and presentation. With the
rich choice of ingredients, baking aids and decorative items, the imaginative cook
can create the most spectacular gingerbread houses and centerpieces ever.
Source: www.hungrymonster.com
Science & Math
Make Gingerbread Cookies
"They measured and mixed."
Just like Matti and his mom in the book, make some gingerbread cookies with your
child. Let your child do the measuring and mixing (as much as possible). Let him do
the things he can do even if it makes a little more mess or takes a little more of
your time. You may want to discuss with your child the importance of following
directions. What happens if you add to much flour or too much sugar? What would
happen if you decided to leave out the baking soda? If you have an older child
working along-side your preschooler, you may want to allow him to make some
predictions on a chart and let him make some cookies that don't follow the
directions. What were the results? (too hard, too soft, etc.). What happened to
Matti when he didn't follow directions?
For an extra math connection, have your student make patterns on his gingerbread
cookies (with M&Ms or other candies). Can he finish a pattern that you start? Can
your older student start a pattern for your younger student?
Just for Fun
Gingerbread Mix In a Jar
This is a wonderful gift to make for friends and family!
Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 cup packed brown sugar
Directions: Mix 2 cups of the flour with the baking soda and baking powder. Mix
the remaining 1 1/2 cups flour with the ginger, cloves, cinnamon, and allspice. In a
1 quart, wide mouth canning jar, layer the ingredients starting with the flour and
baking powder mixture, then the brown sugar, and finally the flour and spice
mixture. Pack firmly between layers. Attach a directions tag to the jar.
Make a Gingerbread House
After you make your gingerbread people, you are going to need a place for them to
live! Whether you make it out of real gingerbread or graham crackers, your child
will enjoy the time you spend together!
Recipe for "Gingerbread" Playdough
This is an easy dough to make. Your child can have fun helping you. Maybe he will
make a gingerbread baby and gingerbread house to play with.
1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
2 tsp. cream of tartar
1 cup water
1 tsp. vegetable oil
Spices: Cinnamon, Ginger, Allspice, Nutmeg (I add a lot of cinnamon--probably 1/4
cup plus a tiny bit of ginger and nutmeg)
Mix the dry ingredients. In a separate bowl mix water and oil together then add
them to the dry ingredients and stir. In a pot, cook the mixture for three to five
minutes on low/medium, stirring constantly. The dough will start to pull away from
the sides of the pot and stick together in a large ball. Take the dough out of the
pan and knead the dough until it becomes soft and smooth. Allow the dough to
cool and then store it in an airtight container.
Christmas Ornament Dough
1/2 cup apple sauce
1/2 cup cinnamon
Ziploc bag
rolling pin
Christmas cookie cutters
Red/Green Yarn or Clear Fishing Line
Pour cinnamon and apple sauce into the bag. Seal and knead until a dough forms.
Roll the dough out with the cookie cutters. Remember to cut a hole at the top of
your "cookie" before it dries (to thread the yarn through). Let it dry overnight and
give as gifts or hang on your tree. If you have leftovers, store it in the plastic bag
for later.
Library List
Maisy Makes Gingerbread (for preschoolers)
Gingerbread Man by Karen Lee Schmidt
Gingerbread Boy by Richard Egielski
The Gingerbread Rabbit by Randall Jarrell
The Gingerbread Man retold by Jim Aylesworth
You Can’t Catch Me by John and Ann Hassett
The Cajun Gingerbread Boy by Berthe Amoss
The Runaway Tortilla by Eric Kimmel
The Gingerbread Girl by Lisa Campbell Ernst
The Gingerbread Cowboy by Janet Squires
The Pancake Man: An Old Norwegian Folk Tale by Lorinda Cauley
Materials and information on this website may be used for your own personal and
school use. Material may not be shared electronically or be used for resale.
© Homeschool Share
Cut book out as one piece. Fold opposite of a matchbook (the small flap with “My Gingerbread Recipe” should be at the top of the book instead of the bottom). Include a favorite recipe in this book OR let your student dictate how to make gingerbread and record his narration in the book.
My gingerbread recipe
to interest
oneself in
what is not
one's
concern
a long nose
or muzzle
old and used
Cut out shapes. Let your student write the correct word on each piece. Stack together and attach at the
top with a staple or brass fastener. For extra durability, print on cardstock.
Vocabulary
fell over
a cat with a
striped and
spotted coat
to move with
sudden
motion
danced
smell
Cut
on s
olid
bla
ck lin
es
to r
em
ove e
xtr
a a
reas.
Fold
left
over
paper
into
thirds
(tri-f
old
sty
le).
W
rite
a d
iffe
rent
title o
f each
sto
ry
you’
ve r
ead
on e
ach
ging
erbr
ead
pers
on.
Let
your
stu
dent
list
the
cha
ract
ers
men
tione
d in
eac
h di
ffer
ent
stor
y.
Use
thi
s as
a
sprin
gboa
rd f
or c
hara
cter
and
wha
t ch
arac
ters
are
. Yo
u ca
n al
so u
se it
to
com
pare
and
con
tras
t th
e va
rious
ver
sion
s yo
u’ve
read.
character
Cut
out
boo
k as
one
pie
ce.
Fold
tri-f
old
styl
e. U
se e
ach
pag
e to
list
the
title
of a
gin
gerb
read
th
emed
boo
k re
ad a
s w
ell a
s th
e se
ttin
g fo
und
in th
e st
ory.
Setting
Cut book out as one piece. Fold in half. Use
the inside to record your student’s narration
of the story.
Hansel and Gretel
Cut book out on solid black lines. Fold on dotted lines. This will be your cover. The
plot
Denouement
What was the final
solution to the
problem?
How does the story
end?
Climax
What is the most
exciting moment of
the story?
Rising Action
What events are
created by the
problem?
How do the
characters try to
solve the problem?
Conflict
What is the main
problem in the
story?
Cut on solid black lines. Fold on dotted lines. You should have four small books when finished cutting and folding.
Let your student write the answer to the question inside each book. Glue the books inside the cover book.
Cut book out as one piece. Fold each triangle under. Fold book in half on solid black line. Open the
book and you should see four flaps. Let your student write his answers under each flap.
Cut book on next page out as one piece. Let your student complete the handwriting exercise. When finished, fold in half.
Cut cover piece out (on this page) and affix to the front of the book.
You can’t catch me!
Run, run, as fast as you can! You can’t catch me. I’m the Gingerbread Man!
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Run, run, as fast as you can! You can’t catch me. I’m the Gingerbread Man!
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My gingerbread
family
Words with the hard G
STORAGE Words with the soft G
g is for
Gingerbread
giraffe
Gerbil
Giant
Girl
Goat
Gum
Gift
Cut the book out in one piece (along the solid outer lines). Cut the cards apart.
Fold the short edge of the book up along the dotted line so that the text is to the outside. Attach the pocket to the main portion of the book (on the right and left sides) using a thin strip of adhesive.
Fold the “words with soft G” portion of the book over along the dotted line so that the pocket is on the inside. Do the same with the “words with hard G” portion of the book.
The center pocket allows your student a storage spot so he can play this “game” over and over.
One Yummy Gingerbread Man Eat one yummy leg,
Eat the other yummy leg. Eat one tasty arm.
Eat the other tasty arm. Eat the delicious head.
Crunch. Munch. Crunch. Yummy in your tummy!
Cut pages apart. Let your student decorate the five gingerbread patterns. Let your student rip the arm off of one. Glue that one to the first page. Let your student rip both arms off the second. Glue that to the next page. Continue ripping off body parts (lol) until your student has “eaten” the arms, legs, and head. Use the ripped parts on the last page (crunch...munch).
Have fun with this! :) Once the pages are finished, you can stack together and staple on the left side of the cover.
Cut out cards. Let your student sequence the cards or use them to retell the story. If desired, make a small book from the cards.
Please note that these cards go with the original version of the story.
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My story
Measure and mix!
Roll the dough flat
Cut
out
all
thre
e st
rips
of th
ree
rect
angl
es.
Glu
e w
here
indi
cate
d so
that
you
hav
e on
e lo
ng li
ne.
Fold
acc
ordi
on s
tyle
mak
ing
sure
“Mak
ing
Gin
gerb
read
” is
on
the
fron
t cov
er.
Befo
re y
ou g
lue
the
bac
k of
the
last
pag
e in
to y
our l
apb
ook,
affi
x a
ribb
on
arou
nd th
e b
ook
(glu
e it
dow
n to
the
bac
k as
wel
l) th
at c
an ti
e on
the
fron
t to
help
kee
p y
our b
ook
clos
ed.
Add
pic
ture
s of
you
r coo
kie
bak
ing
exp
erie
nce!
Making gingerbread
Cut out the shapes
Time to bake!
Glue to the back of the last page.
Decorating
Catching gingerbread
Glue to the back of the last page.
Fold
in h
alf o
n th
e do
tted
line
. C
ut a
roun
d th
e sh
ape
of th
e b
ook.
Cut
out
the
wor
d fin
d an
d w
ord
list o
n th
e ne
xt p
age.
Pas
te th
e w
ord
find
on o
ne s
ide
of th
e ho
use
and
the
wor
d lis
t on
the
othe
r. Y
ou c
ould
eas
ily u
se th
is h
ouse
for s
omet
hing
els
e if
your
stu
dent
isn’
t rea
dy fo
r or d
oesn
’t en
joy
wor
d p
uz-
V G
I N
G E
R B
R E
A D
A P
K E
S D
H S
B A
K E
P I
G A
R C
O W R
S E
R
H B
U C
T O
N M Q
T B
E
L V T
C B
O O
L P
F O
X
H C
W A
G K
J K
K U
Y I
O D
E N
F I
C I
N G
F R
R E
R D
L E
I E
O V M C
S A
G Y
F H
D Y
S W J
H
E S
T W P
H O
U S
E O
A
C M A
N M R
T M C
P T
S
K B
L B
A B
Y Y
Z X D
E
WORD LIST
GINGERBREAD
COOKIE
BOY
HOUSE
BABY
PIG
HORSE
COW
CHASE
FOX
MAN
BAKE
CANDY
ICING
YUM
Gingerbread Word Find
1. Empty contents of jar into a large mixing bowl. Stir to blend together. Mix in 1/2 cup softened butter or margarine, 3/4 cup molasses, and 1 slightly beaten egg. Dough will be very stiff, so you may need to use your hands. Cover, and refrigerate for 1 hour.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). 3. Roll dough to 1/4 inch thick on a lightly floured surface. Cut into shapes with a cookie cutter. Place cookies on a lightly greased cookie sheet about 2 inches apart. 4. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in preheated oven.
Gingerbread Cookies
1. Empty contents of jar into a large mixing bowl. Stir to blend together. Mix in 1/2 cup softened butter or margarine, 3/4 cup molasses, and 1 slightly beaten egg. Dough will be very stiff, so you may need to use your hands. Cover, and refrigerate for 1 hour.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). 3. Roll dough to 1/4 inch thick on a lightly floured surface. Cut into shapes with a cookie cutter. Place cookies on a lightly greased cookie sheet about 2 inches apart. 4. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in preheated oven.
Gingerbread Cookies
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